Report ·
Dec 13, 2016

Politics & Global Warming, November 2016

4. Support for Transitioning From Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy

4.1. Most registered voters think the U.S. should use more renewable energy and less fossil fuel.

A large majority of registered voters (81%) say that, in the future, the U.S. should use more renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and geothermal), and 61% say the U.S. should begin to do so “immediately.” This is the case across the political spectrum – with three in four or more Democrats (85%), Independents (78%), and Republicans (76%) saying the U.S. should use more renewable energy.

A majority of registered voters (55%) also say that, in the future, the U.S. should use less fossil fuel (coal, oil, and natural gas), with 38% saying that this should begin “immediately.” Majorities of Democrats (68%), and Independents (52%) say the U.S. should use less fossil fuel. A plurality of Republicans (39%) also say the U.S. should use less fossil fuel.

Half of registered voters (51%) think government policies intended to transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy will improve economic growth and provide new jobs. An additional one in five (21%) think it will have no impact on the economy or jobs. Only about one in four (27%) think it will reduce economic growth and cost jobs. Democrats (88%) are the most likely to think policies to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy will either improve economic growth and provide new jobs or have no impact. A majority of Independents (64%) and Republicans (55%) also think a clean energy transition will improve the economy or have no impact, although 52% of conservative Republicans believe it would reduce economic growth and cost jobs.